[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5977]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 981222313-8320-02; I.D. 030399B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka
Mackerel in the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of a closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the
Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully utilize the
1999 interim harvest specification of Atka mackerel in the Central
Aleutian District, including the 1999 critical habitat percentage of
the interim harvest specification of Atka mackerel established for this
District.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 7, 1999,
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with
the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 1999 interim TAC for Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian
District is 9,520 metric tons (mt), of which no more than 7,616 mt may
be harvested from critical habitat (64 FR 3446, January 22, 1999). See
Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a)(8)(iii)(B). The directed fishery
for Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian District was closed to
reserve amounts anticipated to be needed for incidental catch in other
fisheries (64 FR 10398, March 4, 1999). The Steller Sea lion critical
habitat in the Central Aleutian District was closed to trawl gear to
prevent exceeding the percentage of the interim harvest specifications
of Atka mackerel allocated to the Central Aleutian District (64 FR
8013, February 18, 1999). Fishing with trawl gear in critical habitat
in the Central Aleutian District was opened concurrent with the closure
of the Central Aleutian District to directed fishing for Atka mackerel
(64 FR 10398, March 4, 1999). NMFS has determined that as of March 2,
1999, approximately 4,000 mt remains in the Central Aleutian Islands
directed fishing allowance and 2,192 mt remains in the critical habitat
percentage of the interim harvest specifications of Atka mackerel
allocated to the Central Aleutian District.
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator),
has determined that the 1999 directed fishing allowance for Atka
mackerel in the Central Aleutian District and the critical habitat
percentage of the interim harvest specifications of Atka mackerel
established for this District have not been reached. Therefore, NMFS is
terminating the previous closure and is reopening directed fishing for
Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI. All other
closures remain in full force and effect. Steller Sea lion critical
habitat in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI is defined at 50
CFR part 226, Table 1, Table 2, and Figure 4.
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to fully
utilize the 1999 interim harvest specification of Atka mackerel in the
Central Aleutian District and the 1999 critical habitat percentage of
the interim harvest specifications of Atka mackerel established for
this District. Providing prior notice and opportunity for public
comment for this action is impracticable and contrary to the public
interest. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of this
action cannot be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C.
553(d), a delay in the effective date is hereby waived.
This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 5, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-5977 Filed 3-5-99; 4:17 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
